By Liz Keller / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
RICHMOND – Christchurch showed why it is one of the state’s top teams on Friday, using a stifling defense to jump out to an early lead en route to a win over Fork Union in the Prep League semifinals at Scott Gymnasium on the campus of St. Christopher’s.
The Seahorses never relinquished the lead and got a boost from a quartet of players who scored in double figures in the 79-68 victory over the defending tournament champions.
Christchurch, which hasn’t lost a league game this season, will face Woodberry Forest, a winner over St. Christopher’s in the championship game today at 3 p.m.
“It was a very good start for us and we were able to weather the storm a little bit,” Christchurch coach Ben Thompson said. “We just wanted to make sure we were the aggressor on D. We wanted to make sure we got in there – we got in the passing lanes a little bit, got our hands on the ball and tried to get out in transition, and we’re pretty successful when we do that.”
The Seahorses broke to a 13-2 lead behind their up-tempo play and pressure defense, which created numerous turnovers. Fork Union big man Kion Brown was forced to sit out much of the quarter after picking up two early fouls, and the Blue Devils were unable to get in sync.
With just under two minutes to play in the first, FUMA cut the deficit to seven with baskets from Joey Alba and Quadariis Newkirk and a 3-pointer from Xavier Holland.
Brown re-entered the game in the second quarter and made an immediate impact. The 6-foot-7 left-hander scored seven points in the frame to help trim the lead to two at 29-27. But Christchurch extended the lead just before halftime with a free throw from Manuel Wallace and a pair of baskets from Teddy Okereafor.
The Blue Devils cut the lead to four points as Brown found Jonah Dew underneath for an easy basket and converted the ensuing free throw for the 3-point play.
But the Seahorses continued to put pressure on the ball, capitalizing on FUMA’s uncharacteristic mistakes. The Blue Devils were unable to get any closer.
“I think it was a combination of us not being strong with the basketball and them really getting under us and picking at us and knocking balls loose,” said Fork Union coach Matt Donohue, who was ejected in the fourth quarter. “They would get loose balls, get the rebounds and make all of these plays that we just weren’t making.
Jamie Wilson, who hit several timely 3-pointers, led all scorers with 22 points, while Wallace added 19. Okereafor finished with 16 and James Ford had 13 for the Seahorses.
Brown led FUMA with 19 points and 10 rebounds and Holland and Dew scored 18 apiece.
Donohue said his team still has a chance to make the state playoffs but will miss his senior class of Brown, Holland, Dew, Samer Bandak and Cameron Grice when the time comes to say goodbye.
“They’ve all been really great. It’s going to be hard to lose those guys but I know I’ve got some nice talent behind them,” Donohue added. “It’s the hard part about coaching – letting go of those guys and moving on.”
